SOIL BY:Ademide Adeolu-Akande What is Soil? Soil is a loose surface material ( in which plants grow) it is at the upper layer of earth. Soil consists of inorganic particles and organic matter such as: minerals, living organisms, gas, water and more, that interact slowly constantly. ● ● ● Soil provides the structural support to plants. Is plants source of water and nutrients. Soil is the habitat of soil organisms. Although there are many types of soil, these are the main types: Sandy, Silt, Clay and Loamy soil. Soil is formed by the combination of physical, chemical and biological processes in which huge rocks are broken down into smaller particles over a long period of time, e.g: weathering and natural erosion. There are multiple types of weathering such as: biological, physical and chemical weathering. https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/farm-management/soil/what-is-soil https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/land/management/soil/soil-explained/forms Formation of Soil Physical weathering— The breakdown of rocks from the result of a mechanical action. ● Flowing river water helps in the wearing ● Chemical weathering— The breakdown of down of rocks overtime, which results in the rocks through a change in their chemical formation of soil. makeup. ● Strong winds rub against rocks and help in ● Biological weathering—The breakdown of wearing them down. rocks by living things. ● Some living organisms that grow on rock Rocks undergo a process of expansion and surfaces can release certain substances and contraction due to the constant rise and fall of cause rock surfaces to powder down and temperature. However not all the parts of rocks form a thin layers of soil. undergo expansion and contraction at the same rate which leads to the formation of cracks, Acid rain also has effects on rocks and soil. gradually these cracks cause the rock to break into smaller pieces, these smaller pieces then convert Acid rain is formed when polluting gases rise to the atmosphere where they mix and react with water into particles and form soil. vapour, oxygen and other substances. ● Water that gets collected in the cracks of rocks Acid rain can assist in the wearing down of rocks. It can freeze which leads to the widening of the also rises the ph of soils and damages vegetation cracks. and plants. ● Clay Soil Clay soil is the soil with the smallest particles among the main types of soil. Clay particles are tightly packed together with very little to no airspace. It is the densest and most heavy type of soil. Clay soil is made from mainly sedimentary rocks such as: clay stones and shales. Most clay minerals form where rocks are in contact with water, air, or steams. Clay soil has a high water retention capacity and is rich in nutrients. Despite this, clay soil is not good for plant growth. Instead clay soil is frequently used for ceramics, and the clay can be used to make various items such as:plates, mugs e.t.c. https://www.boughton.co.uk/products/topsoils/soil-types/ https://byjus.com/biology/types-of-soil/#sandy-soil SANDY SOIL Sandy soil, which is one of the many forms of soil, is found on beaches, river banks and more. It is usually formed by the breakdown or fragmentation of rocks like granite, limestone and quartz. Sandy soil has large and loose particles that range from 2mm to 0.05mm in diameter, they do not hold and sandy soil is one of the poorest soils for plant growth. This is due to many reasons, for example: ● Sandy soil has a very low amount of nutrients, which makes it hard for pants to germinate, grow reproduce and more. But sandy soil is very good for plants with strong root systems that do well in dry and acidic soil. Sandy soil heats up faster than clay soils, this is because it does not contain much water but instead air, and it is often used (in rural areas) to cook. https://www.boughton.co.uk/products/topsoils/soil-types/ https://byjus.com/biology/types-of-soil/#sandy-soil PROPERTIES THE TYPES OF SOIL ● ● ● ● ● Clay Soil Has a high water retention capacity but lacks drainage ● because of their wet and sticky nature. Because of how dense clay is farmers often add other components when it is used as a soil in farming. Clay soil does not drain well which is bad for plants as it leads to plant growth challenges. Clay soil does not provide space for the roots of plants ● to flourish and grow. Clay soil is also strongly alkaline and its ph ranges from 8-10. Due to this plants won't be able to absorbs ● nutrients from the soil and the alkaline soil prevents https://sciencing.com/types-soil-uses-6558515.html this. Sandy Soil Has a low water retention capacity, this is one of the reasons why it is good for plant growth as having a high water retention capacity allows plants to absorb water easily from the soil and grow. It is used in farming sometimes and is good for growing vegetables as it has good drainage and warms up well. It has large particles compared to other soils like clay or silt. SILT SOIL Silt soil is one of the main forms of soil. It is has much smaller particles compared to sandy soil but silt particles are larger than clay particles. Its particles range from 0.05mm to 0.02mm. Silt soil is made of quartz and other rocks and mineral particles. Its deposits fill places like wetlands, lakes and harbors. Silt soil can easily be transported by moving currents and flowing water, it can then sink to the bottom of rivers, ponds e.t.c. or can be found near the rivers, ponds e.t.c. It is considered to be fertile compared to the other types of soil this is because it has many properties that aid in the thriving and growth of plants. It is therefore largely used in agricultural practices to improve soil fertility. https://www.boughton.co.uk/products/topsoils/soil-types/ https://byjus.com/biology/types-of-soil/#sandy-soil Loamy Soil Loamy soil is often referred to as agricultural soil and is used in farming. It is a combination of sand, clay and silt clay in a way that the beneficial properties of the soils in it are present. Loamy soil is the most commonly used type of soil in farming, this is due to the fact that it has properties that help immensely in the crop growing process. It is rich in organic matter, this improves the soil structure.. The amount of organic matter in loamy soil also makes it perfect for farming and plant growth. It is also made of humus, which is the organic component of soil, formed by the decomposition of leaves and other plant material by soil microorganisms. https://www.boughton.co.uk/products/topsoils/soil-types/ https://byjus.com/biology/types-of-soil/#sandy-soil PROPERTIES OF THE TYPES OF SOIL ● ● ● ● Silt Soil Silty soil contains a lot of nutrients, which makes ● it a good soil for farming and plant growth, but compared to loamy soil it has a lower amount of nutrients But it is considered a fertile soil. Silty soil has a high water retention capacity so plant roots can easily absorb water but it can ● become compact and hard. Silt soil particles range from 0.5mm to 0.2mm in radius. ● Silt soil is smooth in texture. https://sciencing.com/types-soil-uses-6558515.html Loamy Soil Loamy soil has a high water retention capacity as it holds plenty of moisture but it also drains well, so plant roots can easily absorb water and have sufficient air amounts can reach its roots. Loamy soil consists of humus (organic component of soil that is formed by decomposition of leaves and more) Loamy soil is acidic and its ph level ranges from 4.5 to 5.5. Thanks Do you have any questions? CREDITS: This presentation template was created by Slidesgo, including icons by Flaticon, infographics & images by Freepik
